Compound measuring instrument.



M. CLARKE.

COMPOUND MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1910.

' Patented 0012. 18, 1910.

ITZTITITI% l..:el

ijwue/wlioz I THE Nomus Pan-Rs c MATTHEW CLARKE,

OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOUND MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 27, 1910.

Patented (Pct. 18,1910. Serial No. 563,794.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW CLARKE, citizen of the United States,residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCompound Measuring Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements inmeasuring instruments, and the invention has for its object to provide acombination level, square, and bevel, which is particularly convenientand eflicient in use, and which possesses to a-marked degree thecharacteristics of simplicity and durability.

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument of thischaracter which may be folded into a quite compact form, in order to beadapted to be carried in a pocket and to be capable of beingconveniently packed for shipping purposes.

With these and other objects in view that will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructionsand arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describeand then point out the novel features of in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference isto be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved instrument, the parts beingshown in full lines in open position, and in dotted lines in foldedposition. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anedge View of the device with the parts in the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of thestock through the slot, showing the transverse opening and the seatingrecess. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and, Fig. 6 is afragmentary perspective View showing the parts folded.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

My improved measuring machine includes a stock 1 which in the presentinstance is formed of wood and is provided at each end with a pair ofwear plates 2, the plates being secured to and countersunk in twoopposite sides of the stock, as shown. The stock is formed with anelongated opening or slot 3 that opens outwardly through another sidethereof, the slot extending throughout the entire length of the stockand also opening outwardly through the opposite ends thereof between thewear plates. One end of an ad justable blade 4 is received in one end ofthe slot 3 and is mounted therein through the instrumentality of a pivotstud 5 inserted through the stock and secured in the adjacent pair ofwear plates 2. At the pivoted end of the stock the slot 3 is extendedtransversely entirely through the same so as to afford clearance for thepivoted end of the blade and thus permit the same to be turned freelyabout its pivot to assume different angular positions with respect tothe stock. The blade is preferably made of tempered steel and hasstraight side edges and is provided along the same with suitablegraduations or scales whereby it may be employed for measuring purposes.The blade is adapted to be folded toward the stock and into the slot 3,the slot being of suflicient depth so that the blade is entirelyreceived therein with one edge flush with the adjacent edge of thestock, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The blade is somewhatlonger than the stock, and its end portions project through the openends of the slot in the folded position of the parts.

The stock is formed intermediate of its ends with a transverse opening 6that intersects the slot 3 and forms a recess in one side wall thereof.The ends of the transverse opening register respectively with slots 7and 8 formed in wear plates 9 and 10 which are secured to andcountersunk in the adjacent sides of the stock. The wear plate 10 isformed with a second slot 11 through which is displayed a spirit level12 countersunk in one side of the stock, that is, the side opposite tothe side through which the slot 3 opens.

One wall of the slot 3 is cut away so as to increase the width of theslot and to form a seating recess 13 between the transverse opening 6and the free end of the stock. The seating recess provides an interioroutwardly and laterally facing shoul der 14, for a purpose to behereinafter disclosed. It is to be observed that the slot 7 extendsthroughout the entire length of the wear plate 9 and registers with theslot 3 and the seating recess 13, as well as the transverse opening 6.

A segment 15 has one end overlapping one side of the blade 4 andpivotally connected thereto at an intermediate point of said blade 4.The segment is provided with suitable graduations, the graduations ofone side preferably indicating degrees, and the graduations on the otherside indicating inches and fractions thereof. The free end of thesegment is adapted to be inserted through the transverse opening 6 andthe registering slots 7 and 8, the walls of the transverse opening beingpreferably curved to conform substantially to the curvature of thesegment. The segment may be moved freely through the stock to admit ofthe adjustment of the blade. A thumb screw 16 is mounted in the stockand is adapted to be projected into the transverse opening to bearagainst the segment, whereby to hold the same against movement throughthe stock. The thumb screw preferably works through a plate 17 that iscountersunk in one side of the stock. hen using the instrument as asquare or bevel, the segment is moved through the stock until the bladeand stock are disposed at the desired angle, such angle beingconveniently and accu 'rately determined by reference to the graduationson the segment. The device may also be employed for ascertaining thebatter of an object. In such instance the blade 4 is placed against theobject and the stock is swung upwardly until the spirit level 12indicates that it is horizontal. By inspection of the graduations on thesegment, the batter of the object isreadily determined.

In order to fold the instrument, the segment is withdrawn from the stockand is swung against one side of the blade l, the blade being then swungtoward the stock and into the slot 3. The seating recess 13 receives thepivoted end portion of the segment, the shoulder 14 fitting against oneedge of the segment and limiting the turning movement thereof about itspivot. The end portions of the blade 4 and the free end portion of thesegment project longitudinally beyond the stock. In this position of theparts theblade and segment lie entirely within the plane of the adjacentside of the stock, so as to enable said side of the stock to be placedfiat against an object to permit the device to be used as a level.

From the foregoing description in con nection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved measuringinstrument which is thoroughly practical and eflicient, which consistsof comparatively few parts, and

which'may be easily and cheaply manufac- I" claim is 1. An' instrumentof the character described including a pair of pivotally united members,and a segment extending between the members and connected to one of thesame, the segment being foldable against the said member, the othermember being formed with an elongated opening adapted to receive boththe last-named member and the segment when the parts are folded.

2. An instrument of the character described including a member, a secondmember pivotally united with the first member, and a segment connectedto the second member and movable transversely through the first member,the segment being pivoted to the second member and being foldablethereagainst, the first member being formed with an elongated openingadapted to receive both the second member and the segment when the partsare folded.

3, An instrument of the character described including a pair ofpivotally united members, a segment extending between the members andconnected to one of the same, the segment being pivoted to said memberand being foldable thereagainst, the other member being formed with anelongated opening adapted to receive both the said member and thesegment when the parts are folded, the opening being formed with aninterior shoulder engaging with the segment to limit the turningmovement of the same about its pivot. 4. An instrument of the characterdescribed including a member formed with an elongated opening, a. secondmember pivotally connected to the first member and foldable within theopening, and a segment eX- tending between the members and pivotallyconnected to the second member on one side thereof, the segment beingfoldable against said side of the second member, and one wall of theelongated opening being cut away to form a seating recess for thereception of the segment when the parts are folded.

5. An instrument of the character described including ar member formedwith a longitudinal slot cutaway in one longitudinal wall to provide aseat-ing recess, the member being also formed with a transverse openingintersecting the seating recess, a second member pivot-ally connected tothe first member and foldable into the slot, and a segment connected tothe second member and received in the transverse opening, the segmentbeing adapted to be folded against the second member and being receivedin the seating recess when the parts of the instru ment are folded.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MATTHEW CLARKE. 1,. 8.] Ht-nesses ROBERT J. BLAIR, F. U. WALTMAN.

